We’ll always take an interest in following trends, but when it comes to building out a smart, hardworking wardrobe, items that are a little more classic will always take precedence. That doesn’t mean your closet has to be chock-full with the most basic of basics, but rather that you start to pinpoint which trends, pieces, cuts and fabrics always come round time and again. Will there ever be a winter when shearling coats and jackets aren’t in favour? Probably not. Will chunky boots ever go out of fashion? Unlikely, because we’ve come to rely upon them for A) making outfits look cooler and B) being infinitely more practical than anything else we’ve worn in winters past. Will time-honoured designer stalwarts like Margiela’s Tabi boots or The Row’s Banana bag ever lose their appeal? Goodness, no.
So consider this list below less of a schooling in the absolute essentials and more of a rundown of the elevated classics that will be guaranteed time in the (winter) sun year after year and that those in the know will appreciate from 50 paces. From the perfect quilted coat to the loafers you’ll slip into every day of the week, these are the coolest, and most classic, pieces I’ve spotted on Instagram recently.